Dungeons and Dragons #4 (IDW)

Trapped in the menacing lands of Ravenloft, our heroes are hunted by the minions of Count Strahd. With nowhere left to hide, it’s time for battle! Bullet points: ‘ Jim Zub (Wayward, Samurai Jack) delivers an action-packed D&D story set in the fan-favorite Ravenloft setting. ‘ Featuring characters from the ‘Curse of Strahd’ Ravenloft adventure for Dungeons & Dragons. ‘ Misc and Boo are cult favorite characters from the best-selling Baldur’s Gate video game series which has sold millions of copies around the world.

Why does this book matter?

Jim Zub has a fine cast of characters here that are colorful in different ways. This series’ biggest surprise is the amount of laughs it has, but it’s also inventive in bringing together these characters and making them a team. Plus, artist Nelson Daniel is quite good at making the action feel fun.

Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?

That’s bad…

Zub opens this issue with the heroes simply walking into a town square and having it blow up delectably in their face. Before that happens, they’re slapped in the face with purple, or more specifically paint from the Parade of Purple! It’s a fun intro that’s filled with surprises and allows Zub to do a bit of character work on our team of heroes as they reflect on the strange events. Of course, wherever these characters go bad things happen–prepare for werewolf action folks, as a full throwdown goes on with arrows, swords, and sorcery all in play!

Nelson Daniel brings a hell of a lot of fun to this issue, but also dread. There’s an epic introduction of the villain that involves so many bats they become a blur. It’s a pretty page, and if the flapping isn’t cool enough, the screaming werewolf will get you.

It can’t be perfect can it?

The humor falls a bit flat this issue with much of the jokes smirk-inducing at best. It’s not Zub’s best work, but it’s nice to see he’s not abandoning the humor. I blame it on the lack of hamster action!

Purple party!

Is It Good?

Lots of action is in store for you if you give this comic a chance. It’s also all really one solid lead-in to an introduction of a main villain who you won’t want to miss next month.